Google Plans Feature Allowing Users to Change Their Gmail Address Without Losing Data

Google is preparing to introduce a long-awaited Gmail feature that could significantly change how millions of people use the service: the ability to change a Gmail address without losing access to existing emails, files, or Google services.

The development was first spotted by users in the Google Pixel Hub Telegram group and reported by 9to5Google. It appeared on the Hindi version of Google’s Gmail support page, which states that Google is “gradually rolling out to all users” the option to change the email address linked to a Google account, including switching from one @gmail.com address to another.

If fully rolled out, the update would represent a major shift in Google’s long-standing policy, under which Gmail addresses have effectively been permanent identifiers once created.

Under the proposed system, users would be able to update their primary Gmail address while keeping their old address active as an alias. Emails sent to the original address would still arrive in the same inbox, and users would be able to sign in to Google services using either the old or the new email address.

Crucially, existing emails, Google Drive files, contacts, subscriptions, and account data would remain unchanged. Everything linked to the account would stay intact, eliminating the need to open a new account or manually migrate years of data.

There is, however, a key restriction. After changing a Gmail address, users would not be allowed to create another new Gmail address tied to the same account for 12 months. This appears designed to prevent abuse of the feature or frequent address changes.

For many users, this change addresses a long-standing frustration. Gmail addresses are often created years earlier, during school or early internet use, and later carried into professional or business life. In some cases, those early addresses become inconvenient or embarrassing over time.

Until now, the only realistic solution was to create a new Gmail account and forward emails or manually transfer contacts and files — a process that is both time-consuming and impractical for users deeply embedded in Google’s ecosystem.

Allowing users to change their Gmail address while keeping everything else the same removes that burden and brings Gmail closer to modern expectations around digital identity, where usernames and identifiers are more flexible.

At present, the English-language version of Google’s Gmail support page still states that Gmail addresses usually cannot be changed. Instead, it suggests altering the display name or creating a new account and transferring data.

The difference between the Hindi and English support pages suggests the feature is still in testing or an early, limited rollout. Google has not made a public announcement confirming when, or if, the feature will be launched globally.

This cautious, phased approach is consistent with how Google typically introduces major account-level changes, often trialling them quietly in select markets before wider release.

If the rollout expands, users can expect clearer in-product prompts and updates to Gmail and Google Account settings, alongside revised support documentation across languages. Those who encounter the option early are advised to proceed carefully, particularly with regard to alias behaviour and the 12-month restriction.

While changing an email address may seem minor, the implications are significant. Email addresses now function as core digital identities for work tools, banking, subscriptions and social platforms. Greater flexibility reflects a broader shift in how online identities are managed.

If Google follows through, the update could set a new benchmark for email providers. For professionals and business owners in particular, the ability to modernise a Gmail address without starting from scratch could become one of the most practical Gmail improvements in years.